Circuit connecter



July 31, 1928. 1,679,333

H. A. DOUGLAS CIRCUIT lCONNECTER Filed sept. s. 1922 Patented July 3l, 1928.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. DQUGLAS, OF BRONSON, MICHIGAN,

CIRCUIT CONNECTER.

Application filed September 5, 1922. Serial No. 586,269.

My invention relates to circuit connecters and is of particular service when employed in conjunction with small incandescent lamp bulbs. l

' My invention resides in the provision of a holder for the lamp bulb base or other contact carrier and switching means operable by this holder whereby the lamp, or other` translating device pertaining to the contact carrier, may have its circuit closed or opened.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a mounting is employed and there is a contact carrier supported by this mounting. Contacts are provided upon this contact carrier and aligned longitudinally thereof, the outer one of these contacts being movable longitudinally of the carrier supporting the saine intoand out of engagement with the inner Contact. A holder for the lamp bulb has bayonet projection and channel engagement withy the lamp base that is maintained by the pressurepof the aforesaid movable contact upon the lamp base contact. Means are employed for assembling the lamp holder and contact carrier thatJ includes a bayonet projection and an inclined bayonet channel to enable the adjustment of the lamp holder to an inner position to engage tlie two first aforesaid contacts and to an outer position to permit the spring to separate these contacts. The holder for the lamp may be so shaped as to constitute a support for a cowl that hoods the lamp bulb whereby this structure is especially well adapted for service when mounted upon a dash or mounting boards of automobiles.

The invention will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view partially in longitudinal section and partially in longitudinal elevation showing the preferred embodiment of the invention, theswitching mechanism being so adjusted that the lamp is out of circuit; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the lamp in circuit; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view showing more of the parts in section than do Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

I have illustrated a mounting 1 which may be fastened upon the dash board of an automobile, although the invention is not to be limited to a construction employing such a mounting. AThe contact carrierQ, formed of insulating material, is supported upon the mounting in any suitable way. As illus tratecl, the mounting is `formed with arear-V wardly extending `outwardly projecting support 3 having a reduced portion 4 that is held in assembly with the contact carrier 2 by means of a dowel pin 5. 'lhe lamp structure.'illustrated is a so-called single pole lamp and in such case but one circuit conductor 6 is assembled with `the carrier 2 as by means of an assembling screw 7 that passes through a tubular inner contact mem ber 8 and partially through a solid metallic plug9 that fills the rear endof the tubular Contact iiien'ibeigV the inner end 'of the screw enga ging and clamping. the conductor. 'The tubular Contact member Svextends forwardly through the contact carrier 2 and `projects forwardly beyondsaid Contact carrier. 4The forward end of thecontact member 8 is longitudinally slit and formed to constitute spring contact fingers 10. An insulating member 11 is located partially within the bore of the hollow Contact member 8 and projects forwardly beyond the same, the inner end of the insulating member ibeing enlarged to Iprevent it froin being altogether removed from assembly with the Contact 8.

A spring 12 is located within the bore of the hollow contact member 8 and bears at its rear end upon the plug 9 and at its forward -end upon the insulating member 11 and when this spring is free to act it thrusts the insulating member 11 outwardly to an extent that is limited by the inner and enlarged end of said member. An outer contact 13 is mounted upon the forward end of the member 11 and when this member is thrust inwardly by the inwardly moved lamp holder 14 when the lamp is to be ineluded in circuit, as will later appear, the member 13 is thrust into the space between the spring lingers 1() to be engaged by said spring lingers, circuit through the lamp being thus completed.k When the lamp is to be excluded from circuit this lamp holder is moved outwardly, permitting the spring 12 to thrust the contact 13 out of the zone of the spring fingers 10, all as will more fully appear. Y

The incandescent lamp 15 has the usual` filament 16 having one terminal in the me'- tallic sheath 17 that surrounds the lampface concealed therebyf The inner and transverse face of this lamp base carries a contact 18 which is constantly engaged .by the contact 13 due to the action of the spring 12.

rlhe lainp base carries bayonet pins or projections 19 that are receivable Within bayonet seats formed at the inner ends of the bayonet passages 2O in the lamp holder 11. This lamp holder, in turn, is lorined with an inclined bayonet channel 22 that receives a bayonet projection 23 carried by the contact carrier 2. lVhen the lainp is to be placed in circuit the holder let is turned and pressed inwardly against the force of the spring 12 to bring the bayonet projection 23 into the outer seat in the bayonet passage 22. In this adjustment of the parts the lanip Contact 18 presses the contact 13 into the zone of the spring contact fingers 101- whereby the lamp circuit is closed, this lamp circuit including the now three electrically connected contacts 8, 13 and 18, the metallic sheath 17 of the lamp base and the n'rounded metallic lanip holder 114-. When the lamp is to be excluded from circuit the holder 14 is lirst slightly pressed inwardly to free the bayonet projection 23 whereatter the lainp holder is turned and manipulated to bring the bayonet projection 23 into the seat at the rear end of the channel 22. lVhen the parts are thus adjusted the spring 12 functions to thrust the insulating member 11 outwardly vto separate the contact 13 from the spring lingers 10 of the contactv 8. It desired the lanip holder may be returned upon itself at its forward end to forni a seat 24 for the cowl 25, this seat being preferably circular as is the engaging end of the cowl whereby the cowl may be turned upon its side to control the direction in which the light may emanate frein the lainp bulb.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of n'iy invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be uiade without departing troni the spirit ot niy invention, but having thus described my invention .l claini as new and desire to secure by Letters latent the tollowingz- A circuit connecter comprising a mount ing member provided with a tubular portion, a plug having a portion thereol' titled within the tubular portion in .snug engagement therewith tlnfoughout its cui-underential extent whereby 1t is held rigidly by said mounting ineinber against tilting nuweinent with respect thereto, means holding said plug against longitudinal inovenient with respect to said inountuig member, a portionoi1 said plug extending outwardly ot the tubular portion ot said mounting nieniber, a rotatable and longitudinally niorable sleeve engaged over the outwardly extending portion ot said plug, a pin lixed with respect to said plug and mounting nienibcr passing through a diagonal slot in said sleeve whereby rotation o'i'i said sleeve rcsults in its longitudinal inovenient with respect to said plug, and a contact carried by said plug ior cooperation with a circuit continuing member mounted in the sleeveY In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe iny naine this 21th day of August, A. D., 1922.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

